Associate of Arts
General Studies
Associate of ArtsAT A GLANCE
- 60 credits
- Transfer up to 45 credits
- All courses are available online
- Select on-site and hybrid courses available
TUITION
- $250 per credit
Next Session Starts
January 8The Associate of Arts degree requires the completion of a minimum of 60 credits, at least 15 of which must be taken through UMGC. Of these 60 credits, 35 credits must be earned in courses that fulfill the general education requirements. For the remaining 25 credits, you can either choose a general curriculum or one of the specialized curricula outlined below. You must earn a grade of C or higher in all required courses for the chosen curriculum, and you must earn a GPA of 2.0 or higher in all courses taken through UMGC.
If you anticipate seeking a bachelor's degree, you should select courses that will advance that goal.
- Courses
- Requirements
Courses in the General Curriculum (25 Credits)
- Curriculum courses (12 Credits) – Any courses that meet your educational and career goals
- Elective courses (13 Credits)
Specific recommendations for fulfilling the general education requirements in each category are provided in the degree plan for the general curriculum and each specialization.
Note: Any course that may be applied toward a general education requirement is considered a general education elective. Credit applied to general education requirements may not be applied toward major, minor, or elective requirements. Courses applied to general education requirements may not be taken pass/fail.
Communications (9 Credits)
- (3 Credits, WRTG 111) or other writing course
- (3 Credits, WRTG 112)
- A course in communication, writing, or speech (3 credits) (3 Credits, ENGL 102), (3 Credits, ENGL 281), (3 Credits, JOUR 201) and all 3-credit COMM, SPCH, and WRTG courses (except those number 486A and 486B) apply.
No more than 3 credits in writing may be earned by examination.
Mathematics (3 Credits)
- (3 Credits, MATH 105), (3 Credits, MATH 107), (3 Credits, MATH 115), (4 Credits, MATH 140), (3 Credits, STAT 200), or a mathematics course approved by the department. Must be completed within the first 24 credits.
Prerequisites must be fulfilled before taking Trigonometry and Analytical Geometry (3 Credits, MATH 108), Calculus I (4 Credits, MATH 140), or any higher-numbered MATH or STAT courses.
Note: Check individual curricula for recommended math courses.
Arts and Humanities (6 Credits)
Two 3-credit courses chosen from the following disciplines:
- ARTH
- ARTT
- ASTD (depending on course content)
- ENGL (except Standard English Grammar (3 Credits, ENGL 281) and Advanced Grammar and Style (3 Credits, ENGL 384))
- GRCO
- HIST
- HUMN
- MUSC
- PHIL
- THET
- dance, literature, or foreign language.
Behavioral and Social Sciences (6 Credits)
Two 3-credit courses chosen from the following disciplines:
- AASP ((3 Credits, AASP 201) only)
- ANTH
- ASTD (depending on course content)
- BEHS
- CCJS ((3 Credits, CCJS 100), (3 Credits, CCJS 105), (3 Credits, CCJS 350), (3 Credits, CCJS 360), and (3 Credits, CCJS 461) only)
- ECON
- GEOG
- GERO (except GERO 342 and (course.gero351!id))
- GVPT
- PSYC
- SOCY
- or WMST ((3 Credits, WMST 200) only).
Biological and Physical Sciences (7 Credits)
- A science lecture course (3 credits) with related laboratory course (1 credit) or a science course combining lecture and laboratory (4 credits).
- Any other science course (3 credits)
- Courses from the following disciplines apply:
- ASTR
- BIOL
- CHEM
- GEOL
- NSCI
- NUTR
- or PHYS. Science courses in other disciplines may also apply.
Research and Computing Literacy (4 Credits)
- (1 Credit, LIBS 150)
- One 3-credit course or three 1-credit courses in computing or information technology (3 credits)
- Unless otherwise specified, upper- or lower-level courses designated CMIS, CMIT, CMSC, CMST, CSIA, IFSM, and SDEV and (3 Credits, ACCT 326) apply. Refer to your specific curriculum for requirements or recommendations.
- Unless otherwise specified, upper- or lower-level courses designated CMIS, CMIT, CMSC, CMST, CSIA, IFSM, and SDEV and (3 Credits, ACCT 326) apply. Refer to your specific curriculum for requirements or recommendations.
Courses in the General Curriculum (25 Credits)
- Curriculum courses (12 Credits) – Any courses that meet your educational and career goals
- Elective courses (13 Credits)
Specific recommendations for fulfilling the general education requirements in each category are provided in the degree plan for the general curriculum and each specialization.
Note: Any course that may be applied toward a general education requirement is considered a general education elective. Credit applied to general education requirements may not be applied toward major, minor, or elective requirements. Courses applied to general education requirements may not be taken pass/fail.
Communications (9 Credits)
- (3 Credits, WRTG 111) or other writing course
- (3 Credits, WRTG 112)
- A course in communication, writing, or speech (3 credits) (3 Credits, ENGL 102), (3 Credits, ENGL 281), (3 Credits, JOUR 201) and all 3-credit COMM, SPCH, and WRTG courses (except those number 486A and 486B) apply.
No more than 3 credits in writing may be earned by examination.
Mathematics (3 Credits)
- (3 Credits, MATH 105), (3 Credits, MATH 107), (3 Credits, MATH 115), (4 Credits, MATH 140), (3 Credits, STAT 200), or a mathematics course approved by the department. Must be completed within the first 24 credits.
Prerequisites must be fulfilled before taking Trigonometry and Analytical Geometry (3 Credits, MATH 108), Calculus I (4 Credits, MATH 140), or any higher-numbered MATH or STAT courses.
Note: Check individual curricula for recommended math courses.
Arts and Humanities (6 Credits)
Two 3-credit courses chosen from the following disciplines:
- ARTH
- ARTT
- ASTD (depending on course content)
- ENGL (except Standard English Grammar (3 Credits, ENGL 281) and Advanced Grammar and Style (3 Credits, ENGL 384))
- GRCO
- HIST
- HUMN
- MUSC
- PHIL
- THET
- dance, literature, or foreign language.
Behavioral and Social Sciences (6 Credits)
Two 3-credit courses chosen from the following disciplines:
- AASP ((3 Credits, AASP 201) only)
- ANTH
- ASTD (depending on course content)
- BEHS
- CCJS ((3 Credits, CCJS 100), (3 Credits, CCJS 105), (3 Credits, CCJS 350), (3 Credits, CCJS 360), and (3 Credits, CCJS 461) only)
- ECON
- GEOG
- GERO (except GERO 342 and (course.gero351!id))
- GVPT
- PSYC
- SOCY
- or WMST ((3 Credits, WMST 200) only).
Biological and Physical Sciences (7 Credits)
- A science lecture course (3 credits) with related laboratory course (1 credit) or a science course combining lecture and laboratory (4 credits).
- Any other science course (3 credits)
- Courses from the following disciplines apply:
- ASTR
- BIOL
- CHEM
- GEOL
- NSCI
- NUTR
- or PHYS. Science courses in other disciplines may also apply.
Research and Computing Literacy (4 Credits)
- (1 Credit, LIBS 150)
- One 3-credit course or three 1-credit courses in computing or information technology (3 credits)
- Unless otherwise specified, upper- or lower-level courses designated CMIS, CMIT, CMSC, CMST, CSIA, IFSM, and SDEV and (3 Credits, ACCT 326) apply. Refer to your specific curriculum for requirements or recommendations.
- Unless otherwise specified, upper- or lower-level courses designated CMIS, CMIT, CMSC, CMST, CSIA, IFSM, and SDEV and (3 Credits, ACCT 326) apply. Refer to your specific curriculum for requirements or recommendations.